System and method of data processing for a printing operation

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods relating to preparing data for use in a printing operation are provided. One method includes receiving selected records from a first data source. The selected records have been subjected to a first record characteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials. The method further includes updating the selected records with a second record characteristic updating step. A time at which the second record characteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation to a print production schedule for the printed materials. The method further includes creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation. The printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/112,876, filed Apr. 30, 2008, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Communication operations may employ various types of communicationdevices (e.g., computers, internet, phones, printing operations such asweb offset, rotogravure, flexographic, digital printing, inkjet, etc.).Any communication device or communication operation will have theproblem of generating communication products with the most up-to-datecommunication data. For example, printing data characteristics (e.g.,mailing address, name, prefix, suppression status, merge/purge status,coding status, messaging, etc.) of a recipient may have changed afterthe recipient was selected for a marketing campaign but before thecommunication operation (e.g., printing and mailing) was processed. Inanother example, text messaging data or email messaging data (e.g.,electronic address, name, prefix, suppression status, merge/purgestatus, coding status, messaging, etc.) of a recipient may have changedafter the recipient was selected for a marketing campaign but before theelectronic communication operation was processed.

As one example, when the recipient's mailing address has changed but wasnot incorporated into the printing data before the printing job wasprocessed, the targeted recipient may not receive the intendedinformation. Since the targeted recipient may not have received theintended information, the time and monies spent to deliver thisinformation will have diminished value. Elimination or depreciation ofthese types of occurrences not only would result in a more efficientdelivery of information to the intended recipients, but would alsopotentially provide for less waste (both in terms of cost of product andwaste generated to the detriment of the environment) and increasecustomer satisfaction (e.g., by potentially reducing non-compliance withspecific customer requests such as do-not-mail requests, or otheractivities).

The teachings herein extend to those embodiments, which fall within thescope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish oneor more of the above-mentioned needs.

SUMMARY

According to one exemplary embodiment, a method of preparing data foruse in a printing operation includes receiving selected records from afirst data source. The selected records have been subjected to aperiodic first record characteristic updating step and the selectedrecords comprise mail information useful for delivery of printedmaterials. The method further includes storing the selected records fromthe first data source in a second data source for use in the printingoperation using one or more computing devices. The method furtherincludes preparing a print production schedule for the printed materialsand updating the selected records with a second record characteristicupdating step. A time at which the second record characteristic updatingstep is performed is determined in relation to the print productionschedule. The method further includes creating a postal pre-sort filebased upon the updated selected records for use in the printingoperation. The printing operation is performed on a printing devicebased on the pre-sorted records.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a data processing systemincludes a processor configured to receive selected records from a firstdata source. The selected records have been subjected to a first recordcharacteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mailinformation useful for delivery of printed materials. The process isfurther configured to store the selected records from the first datasource in a second data source for use in a printing operation using oneor more computing devices. The processor is further configured to updatethe selected records with a second record characteristic updating step.A time at which the second record characteristic updating step isperformed is determined in relation to a print production schedule forthe printed materials. The processor is further configured to create apostal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use inthe printing operation. The printing operation is performed on aprinting device based on the pre-sorted records.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, a method of preparingdata for use in a printing operation includes receiving selected recordsfrom a first data source. The selected records have been subjected to afirst record characteristic updating step and the selected recordscomprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials. Themethod further includes updating the selected records with a secondrecord characteristic updating step. A time at which the second recordcharacteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation to aprint production schedule for the printed materials. The method furtherincludes creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selectedrecords for use in the printing operation. The printing operation isperformed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the data flow, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 2A-2B are illustrations of comparing record characteristics to arecord characteristic reference data, according to exemplaryembodiments;

FIGS. 3A-3E are additional illustrations of comparing recordcharacteristics to a record characteristic reference data, according toexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the data processing system, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a second block diagram of the data flow, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operating procedures of the data processingsystem, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is another flowchart of the operating procedures of the dataprocessing system, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is another flowchart of the operating procedures of the dataprocessing system, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of employing the data processing system in acatalog retailer space, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a file management system modulecommunicating with other modules, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, a block diagram of the data flow is shown, according to anexemplary embodiment. A commerce information module 12 communicates witha data source such as a database 16 (e.g., a transaction databaseconfigured to store user transaction data, a client relations managementdatabase, etc.), according to exemplary embodiments. Commerceinformation module 12 transfers various user or consumer data todatabase 16. The user or consumer data may be the user's name, theuser's address, the user's preferred prefix, other demographicinformation (e.g., age, sex, occupation, marital status, height, weight,etc.), transactions (e.g., purchases, returns, complaints, exchanges,etc.), bill paying history (e.g., excellent, above average, average,etc.), business information (e.g., name, customer purchases, supplierpurchases, etc.), internet history (e.g., sites visited, sites purchasedfrom, site visited frequency, surveys, etc.), phone history (e.g.,purchasing transactions, surveys, etc.), other user data, or anycombination thereof. The user data may be updated from time to time(e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) with new transaction data.

An example of user data may include name—Mary Jones; age—30; sex—female;address—123 Singles Lane, Anywhere, N.Y. 12345; transaction—purchasedcar insurance policy from xyz company; bill paying history—excellent;and phone history—surveyed on x date regarding car insurance policypurchased and gave a rating of excellent. It should be noted that allnames and other record information used herein are fictitious and usedfor example only. Any likeness to an actual person is unintended andcoincidental only. Moreover, such record information is exemplary of anyrecord information and should not be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention.

Another example of user data may include name—John Smith; age—30;sex—male; address—456 Singles Lane, Anywhere, N.Y. 12345;transaction—purchased jewelry from xyz company; bill payinghistory—average; business information—Nuts and Bolts, Inc., majorcustomer x purchased 100,000 units; internet history—travel sitesvisited has increased 1,000 percent.

In an exemplary embodiment, a transaction relating to a purchase mayinclude manufacturer data, product data, model data, financing,purchaser information, seller information, date and time of purchase,media used, etc. The manufacturer data may include the name of themanufacturer, address of the manufacturer, primary product lines,secondary product lines, complementary product lines, annual sales data,etc. In an exemplary embodiment, a user may purchase a sweater which isa primary product line of the manufacturer. In this exemplaryembodiment, data relating to complementary product lines (e.g., gloves,hats, boots, etc.) may be included with data relating to the sweatertransaction.

In other exemplary embodiments, a transaction relating to an exchangemay indicate that a user exchanged a large blue sweater for a largegreen sweater, exchanged a large blue sweater for a large blue hat, orexchanged a large blue sweater for a medium blue sweater, etc. Thisinformation may be used by marketing personnel to determine whatmarketing campaign this individual should be included in. For example,the exchanging of a large blue sweater for a medium blue sweater mayindicate that the person has lost weight and/or prefers the color blue.In another example, the exchanging of a large blue sweater for a largegreen sweater may indicate that the person prefers the color green.

In another exemplary embodiment, user data associated with John Smithindicates he has increased the amount of times he visits internet travelsites by 1,000 percent. A marketing personnel or program may utilizethis data to determine John Smith is planning a vacation/trip. Amarketing campaign aimed at selling airplane tickets, hotel rooms,rental cars, luggage, cameras, travel insurance, vacation insurance,etc. may include John Smith in its campaign.

Database 16 may receive this user data (e.g., which may be raw data, maycontain duplicate records for a single person, etc.) from varioustransactional or other information sources (e.g., websites, retaildatabases, call center databases, direct mail response databases, etc.).A first information module 18 may be utilized to update a record 30 (seeFIG. 2A) based on comparing a record characteristic data 32 (e.g., username, user address, etc.) to a reference data 36 (e.g., user name, useraddress, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, reference data 36 is aportion of a reference record 34. Reference record 34 may includeupdated record characteristic data 32 or reference data 36. In otherexemplary embodiments, record characteristic data 32 may be based on adata field, a pull down menu selection, a status box and/or any otherway to distinguish data in a record.

In exemplary embodiments, the updated record characteristic data orreference data 36 may be based on list data, such as a national changeof address (“NCOA”) database or other change of address (“COA”)database, a delivery sequence file second generation (“DSF2”) database,a computerized delivery sequence (“CDS”) certified database (e.g., adatabase offered by Advoor or CIS), a one pass address correction(“OPAC”) database, an address element correction (“AEC”) database, anaddress change service (“ACS”) database, line of travel (“LOT”)database, a commercial vendor mailing list (e.g., InfoGroup), apublisher or catalog company's marketing database, other data parsing(e.g., parsing name, title, firm, or address data in separate datacomponents such as first name, middle name, last name), or anycombination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, data in database 16 may be compared to referencedata 36 to update record characteristic data 32. A marketing informationmodule 14 may include user target characteristics (e.g., age, sex,income, etc.), marketing budgets, marketing campaign timeframe, campaigncount (e.g., number of pieces), targeted return on investment (“ROI”),targeted return on sales, targeted penetration rates, complimentaryproduct pull thorough, regional focus (e.g., Northeast, Southwest,Midwest, etc.), historical campaign characteristics (e.g., success ratefor last twenty automobile campaigns, success rate for last teninsurance campaigns, penetration rates for last five Northeastcampaigns, data relating to using a certain database or data source,success rate based on user target characteristics, etc.), or anycombination thereof. Marketing information module 14 may compare amarketing database comprising data records from database 16 which havebeen processed, for example, by any data service. In one example, datafrom a credit card company or other separate data source is used toupdate or clean up transactional data to create records for themarketing database.

A list selection module 20 may communicate with marketing informationmodule 14 and/or database 16 to generate a list, according to anexemplary embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, data stored indatabase 16 has been updated by comparing the data to data stored infirst information module 18. In another exemplary embodiment, datastored in database 16 has not been updated by comparing the data to datastored in first information module 18. List selection module 20 maycompare data from marketing information module 14 and/or database 16based on one or more queries created for a marketing campaign. In anexemplary embodiment, a marketing professional may query or select thedata comparison criteria. The queries may compare one or more criteriaof a targeted demographic (e.g., age group, gender, geographic area,etc.) which are run on marketing information module 14 and/or database16 to create a list of records of user data comprising the targetedcustomers for the marketing campaign.

The list that is generated based on data from marketing informationmodule 14 and database 16 may be in a format ready for a subsequentcommunication operation (e.g., which may include printing, electronictransmission, producing an advertisement, producing a subscription,etc.), according to an exemplary embodiment. This campaign list may besupplied to a printing device 24 which prints publications (e.g.,catalogs, flyers, brochures, inserts, coupons, magazines, etc.) based onthe records on the list. The campaign list may be created and supplied(e.g., sent electronically by e-mail, sent on a CD-ROM or other memorydevice through the mail, etc.) from the data company to a third partyprinting or other communication or distribution company (e.g., anotherdata company, a client, a marketer, a service bureau and/or any otherthird party). Alternatively, the list may be generated by a subsidiaryor organization owned or controlled by a printing company or othercompany which owns or controls printing or other communication ordistribution assets, which may be result in the list generation andcommunication or distribution being coordinated or managed “in house”within a single corporate entity.

It should be noted that the communication process may be electronic(e.g., personalized URL's (“PURLS”), e-mail, SMS text messaging,telemarketing, etc.) or printed (e.g., physical material), and thecommunication material may be advertisement or marketing material (e.g.,direct mail, informational material, coupons, etc.), subscriptionmaterial (e.g., magazine, newsletter, etc.), and/or any combinationthereof. In the following exemplary embodiments, a printed direct mailcampaign is utilized to illustrate this disclosure. However, it shouldbe noted that one skilled in the art may substitute any of the othercommunication processes in these exemplary embodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment, record characteristic data 32 (see FIG. 2A)may have changed after the list was generated. For example, a targeteduser's address may have changed in the days or weeks of time between thelast update from the first information module 18 and the time the listof data has been processed by other services (e.g., merge/purge, addresshygiene, etc.) and made ready for postal presort. Also, a targetedcustomer may have already bought a product that is the subject of themarketing campaign. If the campaign list is supplied to printing device24 and processed, there are several potential negative consequences. Thetarget user is less likely to receive the marketing information. Anotheruser with a correct address could have been sent the marketinginformation, which may have increased the marketing campaign's successrate. The cost associated with selecting the target user, printing orelectronically sending the material and mailing the material may havebeen wasted.

In an exemplary embodiment, a data processing system 100 (see FIG. 4)may be utilized to update record characteristic data 32 prior toprinting, electronically sending, or otherwise communicating based onthe list. In an exemplary embodiment, the list may be generated usingdata from marketing information module 14 and data from database 16. Thedata from database 16 may be modified by data from first informationmodule 18. The data from database 16 may include a user named John Smithwith an associated address of 123 Waverly Place. John Smith with theassociated address of 123 Waverly Place may be selected to be part ofthe list. After the list is created, John Smith may move from 123Waverly Place to 789 Main Street. Data processing system 100 may utilizea second information module 22 to modify the list to include JohnSmith's new address of 789 Main Street. Data processing system 100 mayincrease the marketing campaign's effectiveness by increasing theprobability that the marketing information is received by the user.

In another exemplary embodiment, the list may be generated using datafrom marketing information module 14 and data from database 16. The datafrom database 16 may be modified by data from first information module18. The data from database 16 may include a user named John Smith withan associated address of 123 Waverly Place. After the list is created,John Smith may request that his record be removed or suppressed fromeither one, a few, or all marketing campaigns. John Smith may haverequested that he be removed from all marketing campaigns, fromautomobile and clothing campaigns only, or from only clothing campaigns.In this exemplary embodiment, sending marketing information to JohnSmith may create customer complaints (e.g., delayed compliance with “donot mail” request) while wasting marketing and environmental resources.Data processing system 100 may be utilized to modify the list. Dataprocessing system 100 may remove one record (e.g., John Smith) from thelist and add a different record (e.g., Robert Anderson) to the list. Inan exemplary embodiment, Robert Anderson may be the person with thehighest likelihood of utilizing (e.g., purchasing) the marketinginformation that was not on the original list. Robert Anderson may alsobe a person that has one or more similar demographics (e.g., male, age40, single, etc.) with the replaced person (e.g., John Smith). RobertAnderson may also be selected for any number of different marketingobjectives (e.g., test case).

In another exemplary embodiment, Mary Jones may be selected to be partof an insurance campaign. However, between the time Mary Jones isselected, but before the printing, electronically sending, or otherwisecommunicating of the campaign, Mary Jones may purchase life insurance.Since Mary Jones would unlikely need more life insurance, Mary Jones maybe replaced or the marketing information (e.g., the message printed onthe publication or inserted in the electronic message) may be altered tofocus on automobile or home insurance.

In FIGS. 2A-2B, illustrations of comparing record characteristics to arecord characteristic reference data are shown, according to exemplaryembodiments. Record 30 may be based on data obtained from marketinginformation module 14, database 16, first information module 18, or anycombination thereof. Record 30 may include any number of recordcharacteristic data 32. In FIG. 2A, a prefix data field, a name field,an address1 field, an address2 field, an add a name field, a messagefield and a suppression field are shown, any of which may be recordcharacteristic data 32.

Reference record 34 may include any number of reference data 36.Reference data 36 may include one, a few, or all of the data fieldsrepresented by record characteristic data 32. Reference data 36 may alsoinclude more data fields that are not represented by recordcharacteristic data 32.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 4, data processing system 100 may beconfigured to compare record 30 with reference record 34 and may befurther configured to update (e.g., change, verify, confirm, etc.)record 30 with one or more data from reference record 34. In anexemplary embodiment, record 30 represents Miss Mary Jones with amailing address of 123 Singles Lane, Anywhere, N.Y. 12345 and a messagewhich states “Thank you for purchasing product X. Did you know that ourY product goes great with product X?”. It should be noted that any typeof message may be utilized. For example, “Thank you for shopping withus. We value your business and hope to see you soon. Please take twentypercent off your next purchase.” Another example may be, “Thank you forpurchasing xyz dishwasher and financing the xyz dishwasher with us. Toshow our appreciation we have reduced the extended warranty plan on thexyz dishwasher by fifty percent.” These marketing messages may bedesigned to increase the sales of additional primary products, increasethe sales of complementary products, increase brand loyalty or customersatisfaction. In this exemplary embodiment, the add a name field inrecord 30 has not been selected and the suppression field indicates thatrecord 30 is not being suppressed.

Data processing system 100 may compare one, a few, or all recordcharacteristic data 32 with reference data 36 of reference record 34. Inan exemplary embodiment, comparing record characteristic data 32 toreference data 36 indicates that the prefix has changed from Miss toMrs. Similarly, the name has changed from Mary Jones to MaryJones-Smith. Also, the address has changed from 123 Singles Lane,Anywhere, N.Y. 12345 to 123 Couples Court, Anywhere, Wis. 67890. The adda name data field has been checked, which indicates that a John Smithand a Lisa Smith should be added to this record 30. In an exemplaryembodiment, John Smith may be Mary Jones-Smith's new husband and LisaSmith may be Mary Jones-Smith's new step-daughter. The message field haschanged based on updated marketing information indicating that MaryJones-Smith has recently been married to John Smith. The message nowstates, “Congratulations on your marriage. As a wedding gift please takean extra thirty percent off of your next purchase.” Data processingsystem 100 may communicate with marketing information module 14 or anyother information source to obtain updated user information. Thesuppression field has not changed and indicates that record 30 is notbeing suppressed. Data processing system 100 may modify one, a few, orall record characteristic data 32 in record 30 based on reference data36 in reference record 34.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3E and 4, additional illustrations of comparingrecord characteristics to a record characteristic reference data areshown, according to exemplary embodiments. In FIGS. 3A-3E, illustrationsof utilizing an address hygiene module 106, a merge/purge module 108, asuppression module 110, and a coding module 112 are shown, according toexemplary embodiments. In FIG. 3A, record 30 includes Robert Brown witha mailing address of 123 White Avenue obtained from a data source one. Acode 50 is a particular record characteristic data 32 that indicates thesource of record 30, the source of record characteristic data 32 oridentifies the marketing campaign. The source of record 30 may be anydatabase which relates to record 30 and/or record characteristic data32. For example, a COA, NCOA, DSF2, CDS, OPAC, AEC, ACS, LOT, commercialvendor mailing list (e.g., InfoGroup), a customer's marketing databaseand/or any combination thereof may be utilized as the source of record30 and/or record characteristic data 32.

In an exemplary embodiment, merge/purge may be a process of combiningtwo or more lists or files, simultaneously identifying and/or combiningduplicates and eliminating unwanted records (e.g., records forindividuals who are high credit risks, deceased, incarcerated, orrecords which are subject to direct marketing mail (“DMA”) suppression,other do-not-mail and/or spam-style suppression, etc.). The merge/purgefunction may provide a mailer with the best possible list of names for amailing campaign (e.g., printing or electronic). The input to amerge/purge may include of a few, some, or all of the lists the mailerhas access to (e.g., rented, bought, created, etc.). In an exemplaryembodiment, the customer's list (house list) may be used as a purgefile, so that promotions intended to generate new customers are not sentto existing customers. The merge/purge program may describe the processthe mailer uses to identify duplicates and how the mailer wants toallocate deductions for duplicates to the various lists. List rentalsmay be based on the number of names remaining after the merge/purge;thus, each list owner has an interest in having duplicates fairlyallocated so that no one owner is excessively penalized. Reports may begenerated showing how many names were input and output from the list.The report may also show the list broker.

In FIG. 3B, another record 30 includes Robert Brown with a mailingaddress of 123 White Avenue obtained from a data source which isidentical to record 30 in FIG. 3A. Merge/purge module 108 compares theserecords 30 and may determine that these records 30 should be mergedtogether to form one record 30.

In FIG. 3D, another record includes Robert Browny with a mailing addressof 124 White Avenue from a data source two. Address hygiene module 106may examine this record 30 and determine that 124 White Avenue should be123 White Avenue. In an exemplary embodiment, merge/purge module 108 mayfurther analyze record 30 and determine that Robert Browny should beRobert Brown. Merge/purge module 108 may merge these two records 30together to form one record 30.

In FIG. 3C, another record 30 includes Robert Brown with a mailingaddress of 789 Blue Avenue from a data source one. Address hygienemodule 106 and merge/purge module 108 may analyze record 30 in FIG. 3Cand determine that no modifications of this record 30 are warrantedbecause this is a different user.

In FIG. 3E, another record 30 includes Robert Brown with a mailingaddress of 123 White Avenue from a data source three. Record 30indicates that this user should be suppressed from the mailing campaign.In an exemplary embodiment, a drop down window 52 is displayed once ayes box is checked under the suppression field. Drop down window 52 maybe utilized to provide a reason for the suppression. These reasons mayinclude a do-not-mail request, death, incarceration or other suppressioncriteria as may be determined by the user of the system.

In FIG. 4, a block diagram of data processing system 100 is shown,according to an exemplary embodiment. Data processing system 100 mayinclude an interface 120, a processor 122 and a memory 124, according toan exemplary embodiment. Interface 120 and/or data processing system 100may communicate with a server 102, a postal presort module 104, database16, printing device 24, marketing information module 14, list selectionmodule 20, a segmentation module 116, a messaging module 114, a codingmodule 112, suppression module 110, merge/purge module 108, addresshygiene module 106, second information module 22 or other modules 118.The modules herein may be operable on one or more different computersand at different stages in a process, and may be representations ofgeneral functional operations carried out by one or more parties.

Memory 124 may include both a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.Volatile memory may be configured so that the contents stored thereinmay be erased during each power cycle of data processing system 100.Non-volatile memory may be configured so that the contents storedtherein may be retained across power cycles, such that upon dataprocessing system 100 start-up, data from previous system use remainsavailable.

Server 102 may be configured to operate one or more of postal presortmodule 104, marketing information module 14, list selection module 20,segmentation module 116, messaging module 114, coding module 112,suppression module 110, merge/purge module 108, address hygiene module106, other modules 118 and second information module 22.

Address hygiene module 106 may correct errors in a user's address,address informalities (e.g., spacing, capitalization, etc.), or both.Merge/purge module 108 may merge duplicate or substantially duplicaterecords 30 together and purge records 30 that are deemed to beincorrect, corrupt, ineffective, or of no value. Suppression module 110may suppress records 30 because of external factors (e.g., placed ondo-not-mail list, deceased, prison term, or any other external reason).The suppression of records 30 is different that the purging of records30. When record 30 is suppressed, the information from that record 30 isstill in one or more of database 16, data processing system 100, firstinformation module 18, or second information module 22. When record 30is purged, the information from that record 30 is deleted from or nolonger in one or more of database 16, data processing system 100, firstinformation module 18, or second information module 22.

Coding module 112 may embed a bar code on the list to track thecharacteristics (e.g., general success rate, success rate with maleusers, success rate with female users, success rate with male users aged40, etc.) of the data obtained from various data sources. Coding module112 may code users into different groups. In an exemplary embodiment,group one has children and receives marketing information that considersthis factor and group two does not have children and receives differentmarketing information.

Messaging module 114 may generate the messages inserted into the list.Messaging module 114 may track the success rate of various messages,store these success rates, and rank these success rates. In an exemplaryembodiment, the message, “Thank you for purchasing product X. Did youknow that our product Y goes great with product X?” has a twenty percentsuccess rate with women aged 40, a fifteen percent success rate withwomen aged 35, and a two percent success rate with men aged 20. A secondmessage of, “Thank you for purchasing product X. Did you know JoeSuperstar wears product Y with product X?” has a twenty-five percentsuccess rate with men aged 20. Messaging module 114 may rank the storedmessage and/or recommend that the first message be included in themarketing information sent to women aged 35 and 40 and the secondmessage be included in the marketing information sent to men aged 20. Itshould be noted that numerous variations in user demographics andmessaging techniques may be utilized with this disclosure.

Segmentation module 116 may include demographic data relating to theuser and success rates for different product types (e.g., sweater,insurance, automobile, electronics) versus demographic data. In anexemplary embodiment, segmentation module 116 and messaging module 114communicate to determine a recommended strategy for the information(e.g., messages) inserted into the list.

Marketing information module 14 may include data from outside sourcesthat recommends targeting specific user (e.g., men aged 30 to 40 withincome of $35,000-$50,000) with specific products (e.g., a new type ofelectronic product). In an exemplary embodiment, segmentation module116, messaging module 114 and marketing information module 14communicate to determine a recommended strategy for the information(e.g., messages) inserted into the list.

In FIG. 5, a block diagram 170 of data processing system 100 and otherprinting processes are shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Datamay be received by database 16 from a transactional or other informationsource such as a website 172, a retail source 174, a call center 176, adirect mail source 178, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, thedata may come from any other transactional database that collects and/orstores transactional information, including for example data fromwebsites 172, retail sources 174, call centers 176, direct mail sources178 and the like. The data from the transactional or information sourcemay be combined with other marketing information from a marketingdatabase or other source. The data may be compared to reference data 36in first information module 18 and modified based on this comparison.List selection module 20 may create a list based on data from database16 and/or marketing information module 14 (see FIG. 1). Data processingsystem 100 may modify a list by utilizing second information module 22,address hygiene module 106, merge/purge module 108, suppression module110, coding module 112, messaging module 114, segmentation module 116,or any combination thereof.

Postal presort module 104 may categorize the list into different postalregions (e.g., Northeast, Northeast—Philadelphia—19136,Midwest—Milwaukee—53202), setup routing for pallets, determine rates,determine bundles and track the list through the shipping process, orother local or jurisdictional rules and regulations, for example theUnited States Postal Service domestic mail manual (“DMM”).

According to one embodiment, second information module 22 may beconfigured to apply updated record data after all or substantially allother modules 106-116 have been implemented, and/or just prior to postalpresort module 104. Second information module 22 may be configured toapply updated record data (e.g., NCOA, suppression, messaging, etc.) tothe list in a “just-in-time” manner, and may be applied even though asame record characteristic data has been previously updated only days orweeks earlier (e.g., less than twelve weeks, less than eight weeks, lessthan four weeks, etc.) at first information module 18 or at one ofmodules 106-116. The updated record data may be data useful to suppressmailing to a class of recipients (e.g., unreceptive, unresponsive, orundesirable recipients), to change the messaging and/or marketingstrategy, and/or to add new recipients or prospects to the mailing.

Modules 106-116 are shown sequentially and as being distinct, but may beany services applied to the list at different times, simultaneously witheach other, at one or more locations, etc.

In one embodiment, upon updating the record and/or postal pre-sort atleast a portion of the data can be sent to a file management system(“FMS”) module 150. FMS module 150 may be used to control and manage theproduction of the printed material, including, for example, thescheduling, layout, printer layout, printer assignments, etc. Forexample, FMS module 150 may control the building of printed material ina finishing system 160 when dealing with hard printed material (asopposed to electronic printed material). FMS module 150 may obtain, ormay instruct another module or controller to obtain, information fromother databases and modules to assist in the building of the printedmaterials, for example from a mailing module 152, a press-to-bind(“P-2-B”) module 180, an inventory control (“IC”) module 182, a datacollection (“DC”) module 184 or other module.

In an exemplary embodiment, the list with the updated data may be sentto printing device 24 to implement the printing process with the updateddata. In other exemplary embodiments, the list with the updated data maybe sent to a third party printing company, a data company, a client, amarketer, a service bureau, and/or any other third party. In otherexemplary embodiments, the list with the updated data may be sent to atleast one of FMS module 150, finishing system 160, mailing module 152,P-2-B module 180, IC module 182, DC module 184 and/or a routing module156. In an exemplary embodiment, the list with updated may bedistributed to multiple modules which may increase the runtime bydecreasing the data processing time.

In an exemplary embodiment, at least two of FMS module 150, finishingsystem 160, mailing module 152, P-2-B module 180, IC module 182, DCmodule 184 and/or routing module 156 may be implemented in an integratedmanner. For example, the modules may communicate utilizing a common dataprotocol (e.g., Mail.Dat, an industry standard protocol, and/or aproprietary protocol). In other examples, communication from one moduleto the next may operate semi-automatically (e.g., with limited humaninput) or automatically (e.g., with minimal to no human input), mayprocess work on a continual basis (e.g., twenty-four hours), may reduceerror rates (e.g., formatting error, data entry or conversion errors,etc.), increase precision (e.g., reduced data corruption) and/or reduceruntime (e.g., reduce cycle time from creation of list to implementingcommunication process). In other exemplary embodiments, a few, aplurality or all of the modules utilize a common data protocol whichenable the modules to process the data in parallel which may reduce theruntime to complete the communication process.

For purposes of this disclosure finishing system 160 may be any in-lineor off-line process performed on the printed material after the printingis applied (i.e., after the printing line). Such a process may includebinding (e.g., with glue or another adhesive or binder), stitching(e.g., with wire or another stitching material), trimming, gathering,collating, varnishing, laminating, embossing, bronzing, die-stamping,folding, perforating, punching, round cornering, padding, tin-edging,addressing, mail assembly and/or sorting, slitting, or wrapping tasks orfunctions, or any combination thereof. It is noted that finishing system160 may be combined with a printing system in-line, at least in part, toperform both printing processes and finishing processes or they may beseparate systems with the printed materials transferred from theprinting system to the finishing system for further processing. Ineither an inline or offline finishing process a message, address, orother information that includes variable data may be included on theprinted publications (e.g., magazines, catalogs, direct mail pieces,advertisements, etc.), blow-in material, bind-in material, stickers,onserts, inserts, tipons, or other printed materials.

Mailing module 152 may be used to collect, store, and/or controlinformation to optimize mailing and distribution savings, andpotentially be used to combine different printed materials to achievepostal discounts and savings.

A build module, such as in one embodiment for hard printed materials,P-2-B module 180 may be used to collect, store and/or control variousinformation about the printed material, including for example, titledata, publisher data, version data, print type data, print requirementdata, scheduling, etc. on a company-wide, plant, or job level.

IC module 182 may be used to collect, store and/or control inventoryinformation relating to the tracking of product printed material,including for example, paper data, ink data, package data, etc.

DC module 184 may be used to collect, store and/or control various dataof interest, including for example, completion data, waste data,efficiency data, error data, productivity data, tracking data, dataassociating each printed material with the equipment used to build,assemble and/or print the printed material, accounting data, etc.

Routing module 156 may be used to route inventory, shipping, or othermaterial handling needs for the assembly and printing of the printedmaterials and other distribution data. Such distribution data may beused to schedule shipments of printed material, provide materialhandling data, etc. Such information also may be associated with atransportation system 158.

Like the other modules described, FMS module 150, build module (e.g.,P-2-B module 180), IC module 182, DC module 184, routing module 156 orother module may be discrete modules or may be modules of a singlesystem, they may be software or a combination of software and hardware,they may be at a single location or different locations, and they may beoperated and/or controlled by a single corporate entity or differentcorporate entities.

In FIG. 6, a flowchart of the operating procedures of the dataprocessing system 300 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment.Data processing system 100 is initiated (step 302). Database 16 receivescommerce information from an information source such as website 172,retail source 174, call center 176 and/or direct mail source 178 (step304). Database 16 stores commerce information (step 306). List selectionmodule 20 generates a list based on data from marketing informationmodule 14, first information module 18, and/or data in database 16 (step308). Data processing system 100 modifies the list based on addresshygiene module 106, merge/purge module 108, suppression module 110,coding module 112, messaging module 114, segmentation module 116, and/orsecond information module 22 (step 310). Data processing system 100transmits modified list (step 312).

In FIG. 7, another flowchart of the operating procedures of the dataprocessing system 400 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment.Data processing system 100 is initiated (step 402). Database 16 receivescommerce information from an information source such as website 172,retail source 174, call center 176 and/or direct mail source 178 (step404). Database 16 stores commerce information (step 406). Records indatabase are subjected to a change, for example a record update of NCOAdata or other update as described herein. List selection module 20generates list based on data from marketing information module 14, firstinformation module 18, and/or data in database 16 (step 408). Dataprocessing system 100 modifies change of address information utilizingsecond information module 22 (step 410). Data processing system 100transmits modified list (step 412).

In FIG. 8, another flowchart of the operating procedures of the dataprocessing system 500 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Alist is generated for a printing operation (step 502). Data processingsystem 100 compares record characteristic data 32 on record 30 from thelist to reference data 36 on reference record 34 (step 504). Dataprocessing system 100 determines whether at least one of recordcharacteristic data 32 does not match with reference data 36 (step 506).If all of record characteristic data 32 matches reference data 36, thendata processing system 100 saves the list (step 508) and transmits thelist (step 510). If at least one of record characteristic data 32 doesnot match with reference data 36, then data processing system 100modifies the at least one record characteristic data 32 (step 512) andmoves to step 514. Data processing system 100 determines whether atleast one record characteristic data 32 does not match with referencedata 36 (step 514). If all of record characteristic data 32 matchesreference data 36, then data processing system 100 saves the modifiedlist (step 516) and transmits the modified list (step 518). If at leastone of record characteristic data 32 does not match reference data 36,then data processing system 100 returns to step 512.

It should be appreciated that the features, advantages, and any othersubject matter described in U.S. Patent Application Number 2007/0024907entitled, “Method for Managing Desired Print Content of a Print Job”filed on Jun. 29, 2005, may be used and/or incorporated with the subjectmatter described herein.

A print content management system may manage the print content of thedesired print job for the customer and produces a content data file in adigital format, to be used in conjunction with printing the desiredprint job. Once generated, the content data file for the print job maybe communicated to the printer system and one or more imaged plates canbe produced by a plate production component. The desired print job maythen be printed using a sequential printing processes. Specifically, theprint job may be printed using a first printing device for printingcopies of the common portion of the printable work on a web and thenusing a second printer for printing the customized portions on the webafter the common portions have been printed. For example, the firstprinting device may be a printing press using the imaged plates, and thesecond printing device may be a printer not having plates, such as anink jet or laser printer. Both printing processes may occur while thepaper is in web form and later the pages can be separated and collatedto produce individual customized versions of the work. Alternatively, asingle printing system may be used to provide both the common (static)portion and the customized (variable) portion.

In an exemplary embodiment, the network is the Internet, although thenetwork may include other types of networks and/or sub-networks,comprising local area networks, wide area networks, public switchedtelephone networks, Intranets, or any other suitable networks.

The customer system may include a plurality of computer terminals, eachcomprising hardware such as a processor, I/O interfaces, and memory; andsoftware such as an operation system, a display application, acommunications application, and other software as necessary or desired.In particular, each computer terminal may be equipped with acommunications interface such as a web browser for accessing web siteson the Internet. The customer system may also include other componentssuch as a sub-network, a server or a database. The computers may beremote from the print content management system and/or remote from eachother.

In one embodiment, the users may access a web site via the Internet fromthe computer terminals in order to select or input correspondingcustomized content for the customizable portion of the printable work.In this manner, a user may be remote from the print content managementsystem and the print content management. The user may input the commonand customized portions or different users may input the common and/orcustomized portions.

In one embodiment, the customer system includes computer terminaloperated by a first authority level user, and computer terminals eachoperated by a second authority level user. For example, the firstauthority level user may be a user looking out for the general interestsof the customer, where the customer is a company. Further, the pluralityof second authority level users may be the dealers, licensees,franchisees, employee or representative of the company. The customer orcompany would like to provide a printable work to be distributed topotential consumers of its goods or services and would like to provideits dealers or representatives, and the second authority level users,with the opportunity to add customized content to the printable work,and perhaps manage a distribution list of intended recipients of theprintable work. However, the company might also like to retain ultimateauthority over the customized content added and the format of the entireprintable work. For example, the company may want to ensure consistentusage of brand materials including trademarks, trade names or the like,may want to dictate the font types and colors of customized information,may want to ensure consistent pricing of goods or services, or may wantto insure that information or material present in the printable workconforms to certain regulations. For these and other reasons, it may bedesirable to ensure that the digital content data file contains onlyvalidated or authorized customized versions of a printable work, andthat only these authorized versions will actually be printed anddistributed.

The print content management system may determine an electronic templateof the printable work, wherein the printable work includes a commonportion and at least one customizable portion. Optionally, variousparameters for authorized content for the customizable portion of theprintable work are also determined.

The template may also be developed for the customer by a publisher orother entity acting for the customer. For example, the desired printablework may be the customer's magazine or promotional piece. The customer(directly or indirectly through another) may provide images and data ofdesired content for the magazine using slides or computer files tocreate one or more electronic “pages” which describe the content andlayout of desired pages of the printable work. In this example, thedesired printable work is a company's magazine, is intended to be eightpages, and includes one or more customizable portions such ascustomizable portions.

As more fully described below, various parameters defining authorizedcontent for the customizable portion may be imposed by the customer andimplemented by the service provider. This insures that a customizedversion of the printable work includes only authorized content that isauthorized by the company. In one example, the company may desire that,for the customizable portion, the second authority level users each beallowed to select one from among two or more provided options to includeas customized content in a corresponding customized version. Forexample, the provided options may include a first advertisement and asecond advertisement. These permitted options would also be provided tothe print content management system as electronic files.

A web site may be implemented by the service provider to allow users tocreate customized versions of the printable work by accessing the website at a predetermined network address. The web site can includevarious pages such as a login page, a status page, and a form forallowing each of a plurality of users to associate a correspondingcustomized content with each customizable portion of the printable work.The web site can also include various pages accessible to administratorsto provide status updates regarding the various users.

The login page can allow registered users access to the other pages ofthe web site and the status page can provide users with informationregarding the status of a specific printable work and any otherprintable works that may need to be customized. The form can be storedin the database, and can be accessed by a logged in user accessing theweb site at the particular network address. The created pages mayinclude company information and trademarks such that the company appearsto sponsor the web site.

Once the web is implemented, registered users who access the web site atthe network address are each allowed to log in to the web site, such asby entering a username and password. Once logged in, the system canprovide to the user a status update. In some cases, the company may wantto print an issue of its magazine at pre-specified intervals and eachissue may require customization. In this example, the company produces amagazine issue every other month and the print content management systemcan determine and keep track of a plurality of customized versions foreach issue. Status information may be provided for each printable work,such as whether or not customized content has been received or approved.

A logged in user may be allowed to access the form, optionally manage adistribution list of intended recipients, and associate correspondingcustomized content with the customizable portion or portions to generateone or more customized versions. The form pages may take a variety offorms and are created taking into account any parameters imposed on thecustomized content. A user may simply select one of the titled optionsto determine corresponding customized content for a portion, but inother cases, thumbnail sketches of the advertisements could also bedisplayed such that a user has a better idea of the actual content ofthe available options.

For example, the company may desire that any savings in the certificatereflect specific specified increments, such as $100 increments,implement a maximum savings amount, and/or desire that any savings belimited to specified models or services. The user may input selectionsor data on this form and these selections or data comprise the user'scorresponding customized content and are transmitted to the printcontent management system.

A user may be allowed to input a dealer name, address, and store hours,and perhaps a photo of the dealer or dealership. This information may betransmitted to the print content management system.

Once the customized content for each customizable portion has beenreceived, the customized content and the template together define acustomized version of the printable work. For example, in the template,the company may specify font type, size, and placement of any insertedcontent and/or additional content to be added to the customizableversion based on what is input by the user. In this manner, the companycan retain ultimate authority over the printable work but can allow forsome content choices to be made by a user. The use of a customizableportion allows for many possibilities regarding customized content.

A user may manage a distribution list of intended recipients, such as byentering or updating names and addresses of the intended recipients ofthe printed work. In other cases, recipients can be determined by thecustomer or can be determined by obtaining lists from a list source.Then, when printing the print job, the names and address of intendedrecipients may also be respectively printed by the second printingdevice.

Another optional feature that may be implemented by the system is toallow the users to determine different customized versions for differentrecipients, using a web page to input various selections.

A preview image of at least the customized portion of the determinedcustomized version may be generated and provided to the correspondinguser. In one embodiment, the preview image is sent in PDF format viae-mail. The preview image includes the selected or input customizedcontent in the template. In this manner, a user may be allowed to viewthe customized version of the printable work as it will be printed andinsure that the correct and accurate content is included. The user maythen input approval of any customized versions via the status page orvia another page on the web site and the print content management systemreceives this approval if supplied. Because the implemented web sitemakes it easy for users to determine and approve the authorizedcustomized content, any desired changes may be easily made. The web sitemay also include information regarding an imposed deadline after whichchanges will not be accepted.

The print content management system may determine whether the customizedcontent is complete, authorized, and approved for each customizedversion.

A desired number of copies for each customized version may bedetermined. For example, this information may be provided by the firstauthority level user, the second authority level user, or may be apredetermined amount. A web site may allow an administration to supply adesired number of copies to be associated with each customized versionprepared by various dealers. This feature can be advantageous especiallyin a situation where each dealer (second authority level users) hasvarying distribution needs and/or when a company and its dealers want toequitably divide the costs of the print job.

A status page may be provided to a first authority level user regardingthe status of the customized versions determined by the second authoritylevel users. A web page may allow an administrator, or first authoritylevel user to view the status of its dealers, or second authority levelusers with respect to various printable works. The first authority levelusers may also be provided with administration powers on the web toperform certain tasks related to the desired print job. For example,these powers may include selecting or providing customized content forsecond authority level users who have not done so, managing distributionlists, and providing approval for users who have not provided approval.

Once it is determined that the each customized version is complete,authorized and approved and corresponding numbers of copies aredetermined, a content data file can be produced for the desired printjob. The desired print job can be printed. Specifically, the print jobincluding all the customized versions may be printed using first andsecond printing devices, or with a single printer, as described above.

The content data file is advantageous because the print order of thecopies of the printable work may be manipulated such that the printingdevice prints the names and addresses of the intended recipients in zipcode order or in another form so as to take advantage of postaldiscounts or the like, or by applying updated record data to the contentdata file as described herein, the files may be made more relevant tothe recipients or more efficient for the publisher (e.g., applying justin time suppression, change in marketing strategy, and/or adding newnames and prospects to the marketing campaign.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a change in record characteristicdata 32 such as NCOA, suppression, etc. can be applied to a list ofrecords selected for a printing operation in a reduced amount of time,such as, less than 19 days, less than two weeks, or other reduced periodof time from receipt of the change to application to the list. In thismanner, more updates can be reflected in the list of records selectedfor a printing operation to reduce waste and improve a success ratio ofpurchases per publication sent.

According to another embodiment, changes in record characteristic data32 can be made at least twice, once before and once after the creationof the list based on queries of the databases to fulfill the marketingplan. Alternatively, at least two updates in record characteristic data32 can be made after the list is generated, but at different times(e.g., multiple days or weeks apart), to realize some of the advantagesdescribed herein.

According to another embodiment, a module may be configured to replaceany records in the list suppressed by second information module 22,change messages of records based on suppression data or othertransaction data.

According to another embodiment, predetermined characteristics of thelist for the printing operation may be updated or changed after postalpresort (e.g., suppression data, phone number, etc.) to realize furtherimprovements in the just-in-time updating of records in a print list.

According to another embodiment, a suppression step may be performedbefore, during or after creation of a list based on database searching,and an additional suppression step may be performed just prior to,during or after a postal presort step. In this manner, an approximatelyaccurate count may be obtained based on the first suppression step sothat printing resources (e.g., paper, ink, press time, etc.) may be moreclosely estimated.

FIG. 9 illustrates the results from a single mailing to 4,588,879recipients, done by a retail cataloger using just-in-time NCOAverification before postal pre-sort as described herein. The retailcataloger applied a monthly NCOA update to its customer list. As shownin FIG. 9, when a second NCOA update was made to the customer list justprior to postal pre-sort, a significant number of address changes wereidentified (Total NCOALink New Addresses of 169,798) that were notidentified in the single, monthly NCOA update. At an estimated cost perpiece for paper, postage and manufacturing of fifty cents ($0.50), thesavings in these costs alone, excluding lost orders) would amount toalmost $85,000.

Although the description contains many specifics, these specifics areutilized to illustrate some of the exemplary embodiments of thisdisclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope of thedisclosure. The scope of this disclosure should be determined by theclaims, their legal equivalents and the fact that it fully encompassesother embodiments which may become apparent to those skilled in the art.All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements ofthe below-described disclosure that are known to those of ordinary skillin the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and areintended to be encompassed by the present claims. A reference to anelement in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one, unlessexplicitly so stated, but rather it should be construed to mean at leastone. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recitedusing the phrase “means for.” Furthermore, no element, component ormethod step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to thepublic, regardless of whether the element, component or method step isexplicitly recited in the claims. It is to be understood that thedisclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thedescription or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable ofother embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. Also, it is tobe understood that the phraseology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. It should be notedthat “module” may be a functional unit related to a method, a device,software, or any combination thereof, any may be operable or found inone or more pieces or software, or be a combination of software andnon-software systems. Use of the term module herein may refer to eithercomputer program and/or circuit components operating the computerprogram (e.g., one or more computers, servers, etc.) to carry out thefunctions described herein, either automatically without user input orunder control of a user. Modules may interface with other modules at ahardware and/or computer program level, and may operate at and/orinterface with other modules at any applicable computer program levelspecified in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, such asapplication layer, presentation layer, session layer, transport layer,network layer, data link, physical layer, etc. Modules may berepresented by a block, multiple blocks or portions of blocks in thevarious figures herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preparing data for use in a printingoperation, comprising: receiving selected records from a first datasource, wherein the selected records have been subjected to a periodicfirst record characteristic updating step and the selected recordscomprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials;storing the selected records from the first data source in a second datasource for use in the printing operation using one or more computingdevices; preparing a print production schedule for production of theprinted materials, updating the selected records with a second recordcharacteristic updating step, wherein a time at which the second recordcharacteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation tothe print production schedule; and creating a postal pre-sort file basedupon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation,wherein the printing operation is performed on a printing device basedon the pre-sorted records.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the updatedselected records are used to perform an electronic communicationoperation.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before theupdating step, modifying the stored selected records based on a recordsuppression status.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, beforethe updating step, modifying the stored selected records based onmessage information.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mailinformation comprises at least two of a mailing address, a recordsuppression status, message information, and name information.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the selected records comprise an address andthe second record characteristic updating step comprises updating theaddress based on national change of address data.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the periodic first record characteristic updating stepcomprises updating the selected records with national change of addressdata, and wherein the second record characteristic updating stepcomprises updating the selected records with national change of addressdata more recently updated than those used in the first recordcharacteristic updating step.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein a newrecipient is added to the stored selected records based on updating theselected records with the second record characteristic updating step. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein a new message is added to the storedselected records based on updating the selected records with the secondrecord characteristic updating step.
 10. A data processing systemcomprising: a processor configured to: receive selected records from afirst data source, wherein the selected records have been subjected to afirst record characteristic updating step and the selected recordscomprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials;store the selected records from the first data source in a second datasource for use in a printing operation using one or more computingdevices; update the selected records with a second record characteristicupdating step, wherein a time at which the second record characteristicupdating step is performed is determined in relation to a printproduction schedule for production of the printed materials; and createa postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for usein the printing operation, wherein the printing operation is performedon a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the selected records updated with the second recordcharacteristic updating step include at least one of a mailing address,a record suppression status, a message status, and a name information.12. The system of claim 10, wherein the selected records include anaddress and the data used in the first record characteristic updatingstep comprises national change of address data.
 13. The system of claim10, wherein data used in the second record characteristic updating stepcomprises national change of address data more recently updated thandata used in the periodic first record characteristic updating step. 14.The system of claim 10, wherein a new recipient is added to the storedselected records based on updating the selected records with the secondrecord characteristic updating step.
 15. The system of claim 10, whereina new message is added to the stored selected records based on updatingthe selected records with the second record characteristic updatingstep.
 16. A method of preparing data for use in a printing operation,comprising: receiving selected records from a first data source, whereinthe selected records have been subjected to a first recordcharacteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mailinformation useful for delivery of printed materials; updating theselected records with a second record characteristic updating step,wherein a time at which the second record characteristic updating stepis performed is determined in relation to a print production schedulefor production of the printed materials and the second recordcharacteristic updating step is performed regardless of an amount oftime elapsed since the first record characteristic updating step; andcreating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected recordsfor use in the printing operation, wherein the printing operation isperformed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the mail information comprises at least twoof a mailing address, a record suppression status, message information,and name information.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the selectedrecords comprise an address and the second record characteristicupdating step comprises updating the address based on national change ofaddress data.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first recordcharacteristic updating step comprises updating the selected recordswith national change of address data, and wherein the second recordcharacteristic updating step comprises updating the selected recordswith national change of address data more recently updated than thoseused in the first record characteristic updating step.
 20. The method ofclaim 16, wherein a new recipient is added to the stored selectedrecords based on updating the selected records with the second recordcharacteristic updating step.